Institutions and Bodies of the European Union

European Parliament
type: Institution of the European Union
alternative label: EP
based near: Strasbourg
lat: 48.597512
long: 7.769092
point: 48.597512 7.769092
subject: Legislature
description: The European Parliament (EP) is elected by the citizens of the European Union to represent their interests.

Council of the European Union
type: Institution of the European Union
alternative label: Council
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.841389
long: 4.381389
point: 50.841389 4.381389
subject: Executive (government)
description: The Council of the European Union is the EU's main decision-making body. It represents the member states, and its meetings are attended by one minister from each of the EU's national governments.

European Commission
type: Institution of the European Union
alternative label: Commission
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.843611
long: 4.382778
point: 50.843611 4.382778
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Commission is independent of national governments. Its job is to represent and uphold the interests of the EU as a whole. It drafts proposals for new European laws, which it presents to the European Parliament and the Council.

Court of Justice
type: Institution of the European Union
alternative label: Court of Justice of the European Communities
alternative label: Court
based near: Luxembourg (city)
lat: 49.62105
long: 6.140616
point: 49.62105 6.140616
subject: Judicial branch
description: The Court of Justice's job is to make sure that EU legislation is interpreted and applied in the same way in all EU countries, so that the law is equal for everyone. It ensures, for example, that national courts do not give different rulings on the same issue.

Court of Auditors
type: Institution of the European Union
alternative label: ECA
based near: Luxembourg (city)
lat: 49.62297
long: 6.1472
point: 49.62297 6.1472
subject: Executive (government)
description: The Court of Auditor's job is to check that EU funds, which come from the taxpayers, are properly collected and that they are spent legally, economically and for the intended purpose. Its aim is to ensure that the taxpayers get maximum value for their money, and it has the right to audit any person or organisation handling EU funds.

European Economic and Social Committee
type: Consultative body of the European Union
alternative label: EESC
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.840556
long: 4.377222
point: 50.840556 4.377222
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is an advisory body representing employers, trade unions, farmers, consumers and the other interest groups that collectively make up 'organised civil society'. It presents their views and defends their interests in policy discussions with the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament.

Committee of the Regions
type: Consultative body of the European Union
alternative label: CoR
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.840556
long: 4.377222
point: 50.840556 4.377222
subject: Executive (government)
description: The Committee of the Regions (CoR) is an advisory body composed of representatives of Europe's regional and local authorities. The CoR has to be consulted before EU decisions are taken on matters such as regional policy, the environment, education and transport - all of which concern local and regional government.

European Investment Bank
type: Financial body of the European Union
alternative label: EIB
based near: Luxembourg (city)
lat: 49.62151
long: 6.1396
point: 49.62151 6.1396
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Investment Bank's job is to lend money for projects of European interest (such as rail and road links, airports, or environmental schemes), particularly in the less well-off regions, candidate countries and the developing world. It also provides credit for investment by small businesses.

European Investment Fund
type: Financial body of the European Union
alternative label: EIF
based near: Luxembourg (city)
lat: 49.62151
long: 6.1396
point: 49.62151 6.1396
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Investment Fund (EIF) was set up to help small businesses.

European Central Bank
type: Financial body of the European Union
alternative label: ECB
based near: Frankfurt
lat: 50.1095
long: 8.674
point: 50.1095 8.674
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Central Bank's job is to manage the euro - the EU's single currency. The ECB is also responsible for framing and implementing the EU's economic and monetary policy.

Publications Office of the European Union
type: Interinstitutional body of the European Union
alternative label: Publications Office
based near: Luxembourg (city)
lat: 49.59906
long: 6.13147
point: 49.59906 6.13147
subject: Executive (government)
description: The Publications Office of the European Union acts as the publishing house for the EU institutions, producing and distributing all official European Union publications, on paper and in digital form.

European Personnel Selection Office
type: Interinstitutional body of the European Union
alternative label: EPSO
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.843611
long: 4.382778
point: 50.843611 4.382778
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) became operational in January 2003. Its task is to set competitive examinations for recruiting staff to work in all the EU institutions. This is more efficient than having each institution organise its own recruitment competitions. EPSO's annual budget of roughly 21 million is 11% less than what the EU institutions used to spend on recruitment.

European Administrative School
type: Interinstitutional body of the European Union
alternative label: EAS
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.83924
long: 4.38393
point: 50.83924 4.38393
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Administrative School (EAS) was set up on 10 February 2005. Its task is to provide training in specific areas for members of EU staff. Its courses are open to staff of all the EU institutions, thereby helping spread common values, promoting better understanding among EU staff and achieving economies of scale. It works in close cooperation with the training departments of all the institutions to avoid any duplication of effort.

Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: ACER
based near: Ljubljana
lat: 46.062
long: 14.509
point: 46.062 14.509
subject: Executive (government)
description: ACER's mission is to assist National Regulatory Authorities in exercising, at Community level, the regulatory tasks that they perform in the Member States and, where necessary, to coordinate their action.

Community Fisheries Control Agency
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: CFCA
based near: Vigo
lat: 42.231356
long: -8.712447
point: 42.231356 -8.712447
subject: Executive (government)
description: The Community Fisheries Control Agency (CFCA)'s goals are to co-ordinate the operational activities of Member States in the area of fisheries, and provide assistance to the Member States in their application of the CFP.

Community Plant Variety Office
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: CPVO
based near: Angers
lat: 47.473612
long: -0.554167
point: 47.473612 -0.554167
subject: Executive (government)
description: The Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO)'s task is to administer a system of plant variety rights, also known as plant breeders' rights, a form of intellectual property right relating to plants.

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: EU-OSHA
based near: Bilbao
lat: 43.256944
long: -2.923611
point: 43.256944 -2.923611
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) was set up in 1996 in Bilbao, Spain. Its mission is to make Europe's workplaces safer, healthier and more productive.

European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: FRONTEX
based near: Warsaw
lat: 52.23
long: 21.010833
point: 52.23 21.010833
subject: Executive (government)
description: FRONTEX coordinates operational cooperation between Member States in the field of management of external borders; assists Member States in the training of national border guards, including the establishment of common training standards; carries out risk analyses; follows up the development of research relevant for the control and surveillance of external borders; assists Member States in circumstances requiring increased technical and operational assistance at external borders; and provides Member States with the necessary support in organising joint return operations.

European Aviation Safety Agency
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: EASA
based near: Cologne
lat: 50.95
long: 6.966667
point: 50.95 6.966667
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is an agency of the European Unionwith offices in Cologne, Germany, which has been given regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety.

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: ECDC
based near: Solna Municipality
lat: 59.35
long: 18
point: 59.35 18
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is an independent agency of the European Union aimed at strengthening Europe's defences against infectious diseases.

European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: Cedefop
based near: Thessaloniki
lat: 40.65
long: 22.9
point: 40.65 22.9
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) aims at underpinning the development of vocational education and training policy in the European Union.

European Chemicals Agency
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: ECHA
based near: Helsinki
lat: 60.170833
long: 24.9375
point: 60.170833 24.9375
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) manages the technical, scientific and administrative aspects of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) system.

European Environment Agency
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: EEA
based near: Copenhagen
lat: 55.676111
long: 12.568333
point: 55.676111 12.568333
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Environment Agency (EEA) is devoted to establishing a monitoring network for the monitoring of the European environment.

European Food Safety Authority
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: EFSA
based near: Parma
lat: 44.8
long: 10.333333
point: 44.8 10.333333
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provides independent scientific advice on all matters with a direct or indirect impact on food safety — including animal health and welfare and plant protection. EFSA is also consulted on nutrition in relation to Community legislation.

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: EUROFOUND
based near: Dublin, Ireland
lat: 53.347778
long: -6.259722
point: 53.347778 -6.259722
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions contributes to the planning and establishment of better living and working conditions in Europe. It provides findings, knowledge and advice from independent and comparative research, to governments, employers, trade unions and the European Commission.

European Institute for Gender Equality
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: EIGE
based near: Vilnius
lat: 54.683333
long: 25.283333
point: 54.683333 25.283333
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Institute for Gender Equality supports the EU institutions and the Member States in promoting equality between women and men and combating sex discrimination.

European Maritime Safety Agency
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: EMSA
based near: Lisbon
lat: 38.713811
long: -9.139386
point: 38.713811 -9.139386
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) is a European Union agency charged with reducing the risk of maritime accidents, marine pollution from ships and the loss of human lives at sea by helping to enforce the pertinent EU legislation.

European Medicines Agency
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: EMA
based near: London
lat: 51.507222
long: -0.1275
point: 51.507222 -0.1275
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Medicines Agency is a decentralised body of the European Union with headquarters in London. Its main responsibility is the protection and promotion of public and animal health, through the evaluation and supervision of medicines for human and veterinary use.

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: EMCDDA
based near: Lisbon
lat: 38.713811
long: -9.139386
point: 38.713811 -9.139386
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is the hub of drug-related information in the European Union. Its role is to gather, analyse and disseminate ‘objective, reliable and comparable information’ on drugs and drug addiction and, in so doing, provide its audiences with a sound and evidence-based picture of the drug phenomenon at European level.

European Network and Information Security Agency
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: ENISA
based near: Heraklion
lat: 35.333333
long: 25.133333
point: 35.333333 25.133333
subject: Executive (government)
description: The objective of European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) is to improve network and information security in the European Union.

European Railway Agency
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: ERA
based near: Valenciennes
lat: 50.358056
long: 3.523333
point: 50.358056 3.523333
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Railway Agency (ERA) is helping to integrate European railway systems by making trains safer and able to cross national borders without stopping.

European Training Foundation
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: ETF
based near: Turin
lat: 45.066667
long: 7.7
point: 45.066667 7.7
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Training Foundation (ETF) helps transition and developing countries to harness the potential of their human capital through the reform of education, training and labour market systems.

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: FRA
based near: Vienna
lat: 48.208333
long: 16.373056
point: 48.208333 16.373056
subject: Judicial branch
description: The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is an EU body tasked with collecting and analysing data on fundamental rights with reference to, in principle, all rights listed in the Charter; however, it is intended to focus particularly on the thematic areas within the scope of EU law.

Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs)
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: OHIM
based near: Alicante
lat: 38.345278
long: -0.483056
point: 38.345278 -0.483056
subject: Executive (government)
description: The OHIM is the official authority carrying out the procedures for the Community trade marks since 1996 and for the Community registered design from 2003.

European GNSS Supervisory Authority
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: GSA
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.83924
long: 4.38393
point: 50.83924 4.38393
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European GNSS Agency (GSA; formerly European GNSS Supervisory Authority) is an agency of the European Union based in Brussels, Belgium. Its objective is to ensure that essential public interests are properly defended and represented in connection with European Union's satellite navigation programmes (GALILEO and EGNOS).

Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union
type: Policy Agency
alternative label: CdT
based near: Luxembourg (city)
lat: 49.62297
long: 6.1472
point: 49.62297 6.1472
subject: Executive (government)
description: The Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union was set up in 1994 to provide the translation services required by the specialised decentralised agencies of the European Union.

European Defence Agency
type: Common Security and Defence Policy Agency
alternative label: EDA
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.83924
long: 4.38393
point: 50.83924 4.38393
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Defence Agency (EDA) is an agency of the European Union based in Brussels. It is a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) body set up on 12 July 2004, reporting to the Council of the European Union.

European Union Institute for Security Studies
type: Common Security and Defence Policy Agency
alternative label: ISS
based near: Paris
lat: 48.856667
long: 2.350833
point: 48.856667 2.350833
subject: Executive (government)
description: The EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) – an autonomous agency based in Paris – is an integral part of the support structures for the EU's common foreign and security policy (CFSP).

European Union Satellite Centre
type: Common Security and Defence Policy Agency
alternative label: EUSC
based near: Torrejón de Ardoz
lat: 40.45
long: -3.483333
point: 40.45 -3.483333
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Union Satellite Centre (EUSC) is an agency of the European Union's (EU) Council of Ministers which gathers information through satellite images.

European Police College
type: Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters Agency
alternative label: CEPOL
based near: Bramshill
lat: 51.34528
long: -0.923435
point: 51.34528, -0.923435
subject: Executive (government)
description: CEPOL - European Police College brings together senior police officers across Europe with the aim to encourage cross-border cooperation in the fight against crime, maintenance of public security and law and order.

European Police Office
type: Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters Agency
alternative label: EUROPOL
based near: The Hague
lat: 52.083333
long: 4.316667
point: 52.083333 4.316667
subject: Executive (government)
description: Europol is the European Union law enforcement agency that handles the exchange and analysis of criminal intelligence. Its mission is to improve the effectiveness and cooperation between EU law enforcement authorities in preventing and combating serious international crime and terrorism, with the aim of achieving a safer Europe for all EU citizens.

The European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit
type: Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters Agency
alternative label: EUROJUST
based near: The Hague
lat: 52.083333
long: 4.316667
point: 52.083333 4.316667
subject: Executive (government)
description: Eurojust is a European Union body established in 2002 to stimulate and improve the co-ordination of investigations and prosecutions among the competent judicial authorities of the European Union Member States when they deal with serious cross-border and organised crime.

Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency
type: Executive Agency
alternative label: EACEA
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.83924
long: 4.38393
point: 50.83924 4.38393
subject: Executive (government)
description: The Executive Agency Education, Audiovisual and Culture (EACEA) implements a number of strands of more than 15 Community funded programmes and actions in the fields of education and training, active citizenship, youth, audiovisual and culture.

European Research Council Executive Agency
type: Executive Agency
alternative label: ERC Executive Agency
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.83924
long: 4.38393
point: 50.83924 4.38393
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Research Council (ERC) is part of the EU's Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7). It is set up by the European Commission to support investigator-driven frontier research and was established in February 2007 on the basis of the FP7 IDEAS specific programme, with a total budget of 7.5 billion Euro (2007-2013).

Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation
type: Executive Agency
alternative label: EACI
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.83924
long: 4.38393
point: 50.83924 4.38393
subject: Executive (government)
description: Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) manages high-quality European funding schemes and initiatives in several areas.

Executive Agency for Health and Consumers
type: Executive Agency
alternative label: EAHC
based near: Luxembourg (city)
lat: 49.62297
long: 6.1472
point: 49.62297 6.1472
subject: Executive (government)
description: The Executive Agency for the Public Health Programme (PHEA) was established in 2005 to improve the implementation of the Community public health programme. In 2008, the European Commission transformed PHEA into the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers. The agency was entrusted with new tasks in the field of consumer protection and food safety training, and its mandate was extended until the end of 2015.

Research Executive Agency
type: Executive Agency
alternative label: REA
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.83924
long: 4.38393
point: 50.83924 4.38393
subject: Executive (government)
description: The Research Executive Agency (REA), located in Brussels, was created in December 2007. Managing over €6.5 billion, it started its work in 2008, and became fully autonomous on 15 June 2009.

Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency
type: Executive Agency
alternative label: TEN-T EA
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.83924
long: 4.38393
point: 50.83924 4.38393
subject: Executive (government)
description: The Trans-European Transport Network Executive Agency (TEN-T EA) assures the technical and financial implementation and management of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) programme.

EURATOM Supply Agency
type: EURATOM Agency
alternative label: ESA
based near: Luxembourg (city)
lat: 49.58267
long: 6.1183
point: 49.58267 6.1183
subject: Executive (government)
description: The Euratom Supply Agency's mission is to ensure a regular and equitable supply of nuclear fuels for Community users.

European Joint Undertaking for ITER and the Development of Fusion Energy
type: EURATOM Agency
alternative label: Fusion for Energy
alternative label: F4E
based near: Barcelona
lat: 41.40722
long: 2.21823
point: 41.40722 2.21823
subject: Executive (government)
description: Fusion for Energy (F4E) was established in April 2007 for a period of 35 years. It primarily manages Europe’s contribution to ITER, the international fusion energy project. One of its main tasks is to work together with European industry and research organisations to develop and provide a wide range of high technology components for the ITER project.

European Ombudsman
type: Specialised body of the European Union
alternative label: Ombudsman
based near: Strasbourg
lat: 48.597512
long: 7.769092
point: 48.597512 7.769092
subject: Executive (government)
description: The European Ombudsman acts as an intermediary between the citizen and the EU authorities. He is entitled to receive and investigate complaints from EU citizens, businesses and organisations, and from anyone residing or having their registered office in an EU country.

European Data Protection Supervisor
type: Interinstitutional body of the European Union
alternative label: EDPS
based near: Brussels
lat: 50.83893
long: 4.37522
point: 50.83893 4.37522
subject: Executive (government)
description: The responsibility of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) is to make sure that all EU institutions and bodies respect people's right to privacy when processing their personal data.

Institution of the European Union
subclass of: Organization

Consultative body of the European Union
subclass of: Organization

Financial body of the European Union
subclass of: Organization

Interinstitutional body of the European Union
subclass of: Organization

Decentralised body of the European Union
subclass of: Organization

Regulatory Agency
subclass of: Decentralised body of the European Union

Policy Agency
subclass of: Regulatory Agency

Common Security and Defence Policy Agency
subclass of: Regulatory Agency

Police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters Agency
subclass of: Regulatory Agency

Executive Agency
subclass of: Decentralised body of the European Union

EURATOM Agency
subclass of: Decentralised body of the European Union

Specialised body of the European Union
subclass of: Organization